Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Cor blimey guv'nor, you'll never Adam and Eve it, the Robin have managed to have two games in a row!! Well that's worth a good old knees up!!! Blah! Sorry bout that came over all Cheeky Cockney!! But its true for once the Robin Hood don't have a break after a previous game which is just what they need, the opportunity to form some sort of consistency. What a better place to test themselves than at top of the table Pheasant Inn Sunday, who's record going into the game was played four, WON!!! FOUR, scored twenty one, and conceded eight, a formidable start to the season and on paper would have had this down as a banker for them given Robins start to the season.

So to the game, The pitch at Ellis Guilford was top draw flat and recently mowed, perfect for football. Like the few games already gone the Robin start on a front foot forcing in corner after only two minutes, a delivery from "Young" Ali Brown sees Jay (Skip) head just wide. Positive stuff from the Robin and it continues on six minutes when good football ends in a cross from the left, but again the resulting effort on goal goes wide. More pressure and another header wide by Skip, The Pheasant are not offering much in midfield but it becomes apparent that the two young strikers up front and fast and good little footballers, this being the case the Pheasant seek every opportunity to launch it toward them. Eight minutes and this is turning into a fast paced match as "Young" Ali Brown work a long range effort for their keeper to save the resulting break from the Pheasant see them go closest so far with the ball coming off the wood work. Quite a battle this is shaping up to be. Nine minutes GOAL!!!! The Robin score huzzah cheers ring out NO NO the ref has pulled it back OFFSIDE!! protests are waved away the game remains 0 - 0. Another long ball over the top to one of the Pheasant's strikers this time it works GOAL!!! Pheasant 1 - 0 Robin. The Robin disappointed as their own effort had been disallowed, but the Gaffer and the Guru are not gonna let them put their heads down. OH F**K!!! three minutes after Pheasant's first goal a cross comes into the Robin box and bosh! GOAL!!!. Pheasant 2 - 0 Robin. Motivation Robin that's what you need, its a set back but the game is far from over. Corner kick to the Robin, Kebab up from the back see his effort fly wide. Twenty six minutes Gazza one on one with the keeper but fails to capitalise. This good work continues, thirty five minutes and Skip again just wide, a goal is coming its just a matter of time surely!!! Thirty Nine minutes Robin break a deft ball from Gazza to Gattuszola, F**KING!!! YEAH!!! GOAL!!!. Pheasant 2 - 1 Robin. The wind is at the Robins backs now will they use it. More pressure but no more goals, first half ends Pheasant 2 - 1 Robin.

The Robin need to use the moment gained at the end of the second half and go in search of the equaliser. Unfortunately a contentious back passed decision from the ref see the Robin concede a free kick just yards from goal. Smashed into the back of the net by The Pheasant not the start to the second half Robin wanted. Pheasant 3 - 1 Robin. Surely this is the point the Robin's heads go down and it becomes a case of damage limitation. NO! fifty second minute great football and individual ability and the Pheasants defence is ripped apart for Charlie to finish, GET IN! GOAL!! Pheasant 3 - 2 Robin. The game becomes very much end to end stuff both teams having chances and Adam pulling of a fine fingertip save. What the F**k! GOAL!!!! Charlie again a great ball over the Pheasant's defence from Obi-Wan and Charlie from a tight angle lobs the keeper. "From where I stood it looked like it was going over" was the general consensus on the sideline. Great goal magic! Pheasant 3 - 3 Robin. The Robin are buoyed by their equaliser and continue to work hard. Seventy eight minutes and a superb individual effort sees the Pheasant regain their lead. Pheasant 4 - 3 Robin. Well it was a good effort lads, but these are top of the table so there would be no shame if it finished this way its been a great team performance. The Robin were not finished, hell no there was no way they were giving this up they had worked to hard!! The Robin's just desserts came at the latest time possible ninety minutes, another ball over the top of the Pheasant defence and GAZZA finishes it YEEEEEEAAAAAH!!!!!! there is jubilation and dancing on the sidelines brilliant!!! Pheasant 4 - 4 Robin. No time left the ref blows up and the Robin are clearly delighted with the result but they should be more pleased by the display, brave, determined, and a never say die attitude that has been lacking in the Robin as of late. Well done boys you deserve this, the first team to take anything off the Pheasant this season. Lets hope this is the spring board for even better results. Lets hope so.

Gentlemen you were a joy to watch today and should be proud of yourself.

Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Two weeks, two bloody weeks and no game whats that all about!!! Well after a significant lay off for the international break (not sure what countries any of our boys were playing for, though I'm sure I saw Downsey come on for Heskey against Belarus?!?) It was finally time for the Robin to play another league game. So the stage was set, Victoria Embankment next to the picturesque River Trent (hmm!) Opponents Dovecrest, who like the Robin had yet to experience the joy of winning this season. Dovecrest were understrength in fact they were one player short, but showing the determination that so embodies the Sunday league spirit they were still up for it. The Robin were also missing influential goalkeeper Adam, but bravely Chrissy Sykes steps up to the challenge.

So the time rolls round and the geriatric ref gets the game underway (no doubt oxygen on standby)

The first minute and Della has a effort after early pressure straight from kick off. Things are looking good for the Robin in the opening encounters of the half and after ten minutes some good work from Powne down the left sees his shot go out for a corner. OOOH! almost for the Robin Marco and Charlie combine but Dovecrest manage to clear it off the line. Despite the good work for the first fifthteen minutes the seventeenth minute brings what can only be described as a soft soft goal, some shocking defending from the Robin and they find themselves 1 - 0 down. Dovecrest 1 - 0 Robin Hood. A shock for the robin as a mere three minutes later they go 2 - 0 down after a moment of madness from stand in keep Chrissy. Its 68 days till Christmas but Dovecrest were happy to accept an early gift from the Robin. Dovecrest 2 - 0 Robin Hood. Ok ok now is the time for the Robin to pull together and make their numerical advantage count. A turn of pace on the thirty third minute from Charlie sees him clear of the Dovecrest defenders but a good bit of goal keeping denies him a goal. More pressure is put on by the Robin resulting in two long range efforts just before the end of the half from "Young" Ali Brown and Ant "Obi-Wan" Sykes both not getting the desired result. Half time Robin trail by two goals.

The second half starts as the first ended with the Robin pressing their advantage, a good switch from left to right from Welshy give Della a chance on the forty seventh minute but his shot is saved. The forty ninth minute brings just what the Robin needed as the ref awards the Robin a penalty!!! Huzzah the cries ring from the sidelines, this is the turning point of the game. "Young" Ali Brown steps up take it D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!! Dovecrest's keeper saves it NOOO! FFS!! what do the Robin have to do to score. Pressure keeps building surely the Robin will score, fifty nine minutes Della breaks through but sees his shot sail over the bar. Sixty fourth minute and "Young" Ali Brown thunders a shot against the upright! The frustration palpable it fills the air. BREAKTHROUGH!!! finally the Robin hit the back of the net sixty eight minutes and Gazza manages to stare the ball home! Dovecrest 2 - 1 Robin Hood. Sadly the equaliser is not to come, the Robin pile on the pressure in the remaining twenty minutes but Gazza's goal remains their sole contribution to the score line. The game ends and it is obvious the lads are not happy they know it should have been different but mistakes and the inability to finish were the deciding factors in today's game.

So the Robin continue to look for their first win of the season, its coming I know it and when it does it will be the avalanche to start the season really going.